THREAT TO DISRUPT ALEXANDRIA FIRMS REPORTED BY MAYOR, DENIED BY CCNV

Alexandria Mayor James P. Moran Jr. and officials of the Community for Creative Non-Violence differed last night on what was said when they met earlier in the day, with Moran saying that homeless advocate Mitch Snyder threatened to "bring the city to a stop."

Moran said Snyder threatened to carry out obstructive tactics at business establishments unless the city government buys the Dominion Gardens apartment complex in Arlandria for $35 million.

The private meeting was held in Moran's office to discuss the dislocation of 5,000 mostly low-income and minority residents of Arlandria because of renovations and rent increases.

Snyder and several followers caused a near-violent disturbance at a City Council meeting Feb. 21 protesting the situation.

Snyder could not be reached last night, but Carol Fennelly, a spokesman for CCNV who attended yesterday's meeting, denied that Synder made any such threat.

"We are still in the decision- making process," Fennelly said. "We think it is still possible to come to an agreement."

She added that the homeless group is too involved in other efforts to launch a "campaign against Alexandria right now." She did not rule out future action against the city.

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